Houston Police on Thursday afternoon released surveillance video connected to a pair of robberies that left an 18-year-old fast food worker dead when he tried to get between an armed robber and his mother, another employee.

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The robbers struck about 9 p.m. Wednesday while the victim, 18, and his mother were working at a Subway restaurant along the 3900 block of Broadway near the Gulf Freeway. Afterward, Crime Stoppers announced a $30,000 reward for information leading to the suspected killer's arrest.

Police said the fatal shooting may also be linked to robbery of another Subway in east Houston that apparently occurred after the fatal shooting. The suspect descriptions matched in both armed robberies and video of the second robbery can be seen above.

"They were the only two employees at the time. They were getting ready to close," said Detective D. Crowder with the Houston Police homicide division of the first robbery.

The two assailants rushed in and pointed a gun at the victim's mother, who was toward the front cleaning up. The victim was behind the counter, police said.

"He tried to intervene. When he confronted the guy with the gun, he was shot," Crowder said.

The shooting victim has been identified by teachers and Houston Police Department as a Chavez High School student, Javier Flores. Flores was in the 11th grade, according to Houston Independent School District officials.

"We offer our deepest condolences to the student's family and friends, as well as to the entire school community," the district said in a statement.

The district added counselors have been made available to support students and staff.

The robbers fled the scene in a gold or tan colored sedan. They were seen heading along the southbound Gulf Freeway.

The wounded employee was taken by ambulance to Ben Taub General Hospital where he died, police said.

Cash from the Subway was still on the counter when Houston police arrived.

"The robbery may have been cut short by the victim," Crowder said.

Although detectives are still looking for any security video in the area, the victim's distraught mother, at least initially, is their primary source for information into her son's slaying.

"It's very hard for her to talk about this," Crowder said.

The day after the crime, police released a sketch of the man they believe was the shooter. He is described as 5-foot-10 with a slim build.

Houston Police Sketch

Police released sketch of the man they believe was the shooter

Both suspects are believed to be between 16 and 20 years old.

Although the reward was initially set at $5,000, when Crime Stoppers bumped up the dollar figure Thursday evening, it was thanks to an anonymous donor.

"A concerned citizen called us today and wanted to seek justice for the Flores family and donated $25,000 - a supplemental reward to our $5,000," Crime Stoppers spokesman Jeff McShan said.